Symptoms help

I have not been diagnosed with anything yet but I started having strange symptoms about 2 months ago. I was just sat down on the sofa after work and my fingertips went numb, then itchy, then slightly swelled and were very red (possibly Reynauds, since this later got worse with cold water or holding a cold glass etc) this episode lasted only a few minutes and happened again a few days later, lasting again only a few minutes. As the days went on, it happened more often, then different symptoms started popping up. My hand would be difficult to squeeze, like it is when you normally wake up in the morning, only mine would be like that all day, a weak feeling. My fingers and feet would swell a lot, not significantly but I did have to take off my rings and it was enough to very uncomfortable. Also, sometimes my lips swell in the middle of the night. When I'm sleeping my fingers and toes go numb a lot, just completely dead fingers. An overall achy feeling come and goes all day. A couple times, I would get up from bed quickly only to fall straight in the floor, like my knees were just dead. Then for about 2 days, my knees were really tingly, like they'd fallen asleep and the feeling was coming back, they were like this constantly for two days, it was a horrible feeling. I had blood work done, ANA and all the other routine stuff all came back perfectly normal. The doc thought maybe I could have RA and she referred me to a Rheumatologist (not been to appt yet for that) But my joints really do not ache?? About a month after the first symptoms appeared, I started getting this strange head pressure, not really like a headache but more of a pressure wave would flow through my head several times a day, which eventually got worse and persisted almost all the time for a couple weeks at least. It seemed during this head pressure episode that my other symptoms seemed to fade, not sure if I was just focused on the head feeling or why that would be but as the head feeling persisted, I started to get feelings of dizziness (room spinning) which would last a few seconds and gradually progressed to feeling that way longer periods of time, which would then make me nauseated. Also, I must mention that I have gotten quite off balance walking, sometimes it feels like i'm trying to walk on a small boat out at sea. Sometimes I say the wrong words when I'm talking too and get tounge tied not something I usually do. Now that I have settled in to all these strange symptoms, they seem to come and go. I might feel good one day and terrible the next. I was feeling great for about 2 days, then was taking some antibiotics and the next day all of my finger/toes symptoms that had started to fade over the past 2 weeks were back and I coudn't sleep at all with swollen dead fingers, achy body etc. Oh and I occasionally have a fever 101 F. It seems like when I have the head pressure the numbness in my fingers/toes fade, then when I have the finger/toes numbness the head pressure seems to fade. I am at a complete loss as to what this is. When I search the internet, I keep coming back to MS, Brain tumor, and RA. Do any of you think these seem like MS symptoms? Would love to hear what you think. THank you for taking the time to read all this.

Last edited by pleasehelpjen; 08-14-2012 at 08:06 PM.
Reason: another symptom

While some of your symptoms could very well be MS related, the swelling does not indicate MS to me but is probably the main reason RA was suspected.

You will probably have a CT scan to eliminate any brain or other possible trauma.

Once your RA doctor and your GP clear you, then you may be referred to an MS Specialist if the evidence points to a neurogenic cause. You should also make sure you are cleared for any cardiovascular problems because swelling can be due to congestive heart problems. While your blood test might be normal, you might need to have a cardiac stress test done in order to get a clearance.

Nevertheless, welcome to the MS forum and you are welcome to hang out here while you await answers. There is also an Ra board on this site. You might find some symptoms in common with some others. Again, Welcome!

Not too much of what you wrote sounds like MS to me either. I would not rule out LYmes or a circulatory disorder though. Youre on the right track going to see a Rheumy to start...

Please, do yourself a favor and stop looking up symptoms. Its not going to do you any good. A symptom checker is absolutely not going to take the place of a doctor who has ten years of education. And, the simply arent acccurate.

Go see yur doctor and I wish you quick answers and to feel better soon...Keep us posted! But I dont think MS is one of the things you really need to be concered with based on what you told us so far.

Nikki

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RRMS- dx 05

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pleasehelpjen (08-15-2012)

Last night I remembered that I had not addressed your fever. Now, with my MS I can overheat or on a rare occasion feel really cold, but your fever sounds like an infection. Have you seen the doctor regarding your fever and how it might be related to your symptoms. Sometimes a person can have two different things happening, but we tend to lump them together. I feel that your fever may be related to your concerns.